Self-propelled lawn sprinkler



May 2 0, 1958 w. D. EGLY 4 2,835,531

} SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26, 1956. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN VEN TOR.

ym/4M 9. fax K zm v v ATTORNEY May 20, 1958 w. D. EGLY SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. Mum/v fi. [612K 5; W ATTORNEY May 20, 1958 w. D. EGLY Y 2,835,531

I SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

W/Z/AM 0 64 X ATTORNEY y 0, 1958 w. D. EGLY 2,835,531

' SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER I Filed Dec. 26, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORQ I MAM/W Q X ATTORNEY United States Patent SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER William 1). Egi South Bend, Ind. Application December 26, 1956, Serial No. 630,666 12 Claims. (Cl. 299-49 This invention relates to improvements in self-propelled lawn sprinklers, and more particularly to improvements upon sprinklers of the type which advance themselves by engagement with and pulling action upon an elongated guide member, such as a hose which connects the sprin kler to a source of Water under pressure. One example of a sprinkler of this general type is that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,716,573, dated August 30, 1955.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, light in weight, easy to connect, position and disconnect, and which is comparatively inexpensive in construction.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel guide gripping means, which is easily applied to and removed from a hose or other guide, which is simple and trouble-free in construction and operation, and which is inexpensive.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a guide gripping means which automatically adjusts and accommodates itself to a guide of irregular contour and of varying size along its length so as to function properly regardless of the point of the guide engaged thereby as the sprinkler propels itself along the guide.

A further object is to provide a self-propelled sprinkler with novel means for varying the speed of travel thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the operating parts are conveniently accessible to enable rapid attachment and detachment of the device relative to a guide, such as a hose, and which has a low center of gravity so that it possesses substantial lateral stability and resists lateral tilting as it traverses a guide positioned in a curved path.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device, showing a guide of one size positioned therein;

, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and illustrating in full lines one operating position of the guide-engaging means as applied to a guide of large size, and illustrating in dotted lines the operating position of the device when applied to a guide of smaller size;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end view of a clamp illustrating the position thereof when applied to a guide of smaller size than that shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the position of the guide-engaging means as it engages an enlargement on chambered and carries a fitting 23 at which is connected ice Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates a water reactance member or unit of any suitable type adapted to produce motion as a result of flow of water therethrough. Examples of water reactance members which may be employed in this device are shown in U. S. Patents No. 2,563,515, dated August 7, 1951; No. 2,660,471, dated November 24, 1953; and No. 2,716,573, dated August 30, 1955'. In-the form illustrated the unit 29 has a lower housing portion 21 mounting a vertical cylindrical housing part 22. The housing portion 21 is an elongated water conduit 24 extending lengthwise therefrom and terminating in a hose coupling 25 adapted to be connected with a mating coupling 26 upon the end of a flexible water conduit, such as a garden hose 27. A conduit 28 defines the outlet from the unit 20 and, as here shown, is rotatable and vertical and projects upwardly from the upper end of the housing part 22. One or more laterally projecting tubular sprinkler arms 29 are connected to the conduit 28, as by the T-fitting 30. Each of the arms 29 is preferably bent intermediate its ends at 31, as in a lateral and upward direction as illustrated, and each mounts a sprinkling nozzle 32 at its free end. In the form shown, the arrangement is such that water discharged through the nozzles 32 produces a water reaction causing rotation of the sprinkler arms 29 and the rotatable outlet conduit 28 which is transmitted through suitable drive transmission means (not shown) to rotatable shafts 33 projecting downwardly from the housing part 21, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

. A pair of ground-engaging units 40 are provided in the device, the same being of substantially similar construction. Each of the ground-engaging units preferably has a pair of laterally spaced runners 41 which are of longitudinally elongated construction adapted to slide along the surface of the ground without injury to grass and substantially without clogging. The runners 41 are connected at the lower ends of side walls 42 which are interconnected by a top wall 43, as shown. Depending end flanges 44 are carried by the opposite ends of the top wall 43 in spaced relation and are interconnected by longitudinal tubular members 45. Each unit 40 is preferably provided with two parallel tubular members 45. The housing unit 21 of the water reactance unit 20 carries a plurality of spaced longitudinal rods or bars 46 projecting fore and aft therefrom, and each having a snug sliding fit within a tube 45 of a unit 40, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. If desired, one or more tubes 45 of each unit 40 may have'a screw-threaded aperture to receive a set screw 47, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Each of the rotary shafts 33 depending below the housing of the unit 20 carries a crank arm 48'to whose outer or free end is pivotally connected at 49 one end of a connecting rod vor bar 50. The bars 50 extend in opposite directions from the unit 20 with the free ends thereof pivotally connected at 51 to projections 52 carried by the adjacent end flanges 44 of the ground-engaging units 40, the parts 52 preferably being positioned in sub-. stantially transversely centered relation between the side members 41 and substantially equally spaced from the guide rods or shafts 46.

the guide, and specifically as it engages an enlarged hose coupling upon a water hose; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 constitute schematic drawings illustrating the manner in which the device operates to ad- Vance itself along the guide.

If desired, the pad 55 disaligned from or laterally spaced from the upright column 22 of the water reactance unit 20. The lowermost portion of each groove 56 in each pad 55 as shown, or any other guide-supporting surface associated therewith, is positioned at an elevation equal to or above the elevation of the top surface of the housing part 21 of the unit 20. Consequently, a guide member or hose 27 may be positioned to seat in the grooves of pads 55 of the groundengaging members 40, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 to have clearance with the parts 21 and 22 of the water reactance unit 20.

Pads 55 form fixed abutments for a clamp which includes a pivoted guide-engaging shoe spring urged toward the guide in rearwardly converging relation thereto. I prefer to pivot this shoe on a horizontal axis above pad 55 as shown, though it may be pivoted on an axis disposed at an angle to the horizontal. As here shown, each of the ground-engaging units 40 carries a bracket of substantially S-shape, as seen in Fig. 4. Thus each bracket has a base plate 69 which is secured to the top frame part 43 alongside a pad 55, and an upright bracket part 61 projects from the base 60 to a height substantially above the level of the pad 55 and below the level of the sprinkler arms 29. A top bracket part 62 is bent substantiallyhorizontally above and across the pad 55 spaced therefrom, and the bracket terminates in a short downturned flange 63 at the free end of the bracket part 62. The bracket parts 61 and 63 are aperture to receive a pivot pin 64 extending horizontally in spaced relation to the pad 55 and perpendicular to the hose or guide 27 bearing against the pad 55. The pin 64 carries a pivoted shoe 65. The shoe 65 will preferably be fixedly anchored upon the pin 64 which in turn is journaled in apertures in the bracket, although it will be understood that the pin 64 may be fixed to the bracket and the shoe 65 may swing or rotate thereon.

The swinging shoe 65 is preferably formed in two parts, with the second part constituting a member 66 of the shape and configuration hereinafter described, fixedly secured to the primary part 65 as by welding, soldering or the like. It will be understood, however, that the parts 65 and 66 may be formed integrally, as from a single metal stamping, if desired. The swinging shoe 65, 66 is curved lengthwise, preferably on irregular curve whose radius of longitudinal curvature preferably decreases progressively from its pivoted end toward its free end. The major portion of the swinging shoe 65, 66, here shown as that constituting the part 66, is longitudinally tapered with its minimum transverse dimension at its free end, and its maximum transverse dimension adjacent to the pivot shaft 64. The swinging shoe 65, 66 is transversely curved or arcuate on all transverse sections thereof, with the radius of transverse curvature increasing progressively from its free end toward its widest end. As illustrated, the longitudinal curvature of the swinging shoe 65, 66 is concave at the surface normally positioned upwardly, whereas the transverse curvature of the swinging shoe has its concave face positioned lowermost. Stated differently, the swinging shoe 65, 66 is concavo-convex lengthwise thereof with the longitudinal convexity thereof lowermost, whereas the lowermost face thereof is transversely concave.

Spring means are carried by each bracket to normally urge the free end of the swinging shoe 65, 66 toward the pad 55. As here illustrated, a coil spring 67 is anchored at one end 68 to the bracket, as at part 63 thereof, at a point spaced from the pivot rod 64. The opposite end of the coil springis pivotally connected at 65 to the swinging shoe 65, 66 in spaced relation to the pivot pin 64. The arrangement is similar to that illustrated in Fig. wherein it will be seen that the opposite sides of the pivot pin considered lengthwise of the sprinkler so that counterclockwise swinging of the shoe 65, 66, as viewed in Fig. 5, will stretch or tension the spring 67.

In theuse ofthe'device, assuming that the flexible hose 27 or the guide member has been connected to a fixed support, such as a water faucet, and has been extended in a direction central of the area desired to be sprinkled, the coupling 26 at the free end thereof will be connected to the coupling 25 of this device. The device will be so positioned that the hose will be bent or looped at 27, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and a portion of the hose will be positioned to rest upon the pads 55. This can be accomplished easily by swinging the shoe 65, 66 against the action of the spring 67 to provide clearance to accommodate passage of the hose 27 into the pad grooves 56, whereupon release of the swinging shoe 65, 66 will cause the spring 67 to move the shoe into spring pressed engagement with the hose. The transverse curvature of the swinging shoe 65, 66 will be such that the swinging shoe will have substantially full transverse contact with the juxtaposed surface of the hose regardless of the diameter of the hose, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. Thus Fig. 6 shows the extent of circumferential contact of the shoe 65, 66 with a hose of small dimension, as when the parts are in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. Note that this substantial extent of circumferential contact with that hose occurs at the free end portion of the shoe having, the smallest radius of transverse curvature. Fig. 4 shows the device contacting a hose of larger diameter intermediate the length of the shoe, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5 and at a point where the radius of transverse curvature of the swinging shoe is greater than at the point of contact shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 4 and 6 illustrate the relationship between the outer diameters of rubber garden hose and comparatively small plastic gar- 'de'n hose. It will be apparent that the spring 67 permits swinging of the shoe 65, 66 into contact with both sizes of hose as the hose bears against the pad 55.

Garden hose commonly includes multiple sections which are interconnected by couplings, such as the coupling parts 71 and 72 illustrated in Fig. 7 and adapted for detachable screw-threaded connection. The female coupling part 72 normally will have an outer diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the sections of hose 27 connected by the coupling, and it is desired that the self-propelled sprinkler will traverse the full length of the hose and pass over such couplings 71, 72 without difliculty and without interference with the selfpropelling operation of the device. The manner in which the present device accomplishes such traversal of a hose coupling is illustrated in Fig. 7 where it will be seen that the part 72 is engaged by the shoe 65, 66 at a point closer to the pivot 64 than the points of the shoe which engage the hose, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The transverse curvature of the shoe 65, 66 at this intermediate point will be substantially similar to the transverse curvature of the outer circumference of the coupling part 72 so as to provide a substantial area of circumferential engagement between said coupling part 72 and said swinging shoe 65, 66. Therefore, it will be apparent that the guide-engaging surface of the shoe 65, 66 has a longitudinal convexity and a transverse concavity so shaped and correlated to the transverse curvatures of different sizes and shapes of guides and guide couplings as to provide a contact of substantial circumferential extent with all guide parts when successively spring-urged thereagainst.

Correlated with this relationship is the tapered formation of the groove 56 of the abutment 55 which provides the narrowest and shallowest groove configuration opposite the point of longitudinal tangency of the shoe 65, 66, with the guide 27 when contacting the guide part of greatest cross-sectional size and which provides for increase of the depth of the groove progressively opposite respective points of tangency of the shoe 65, 66 with guide members of progressively smaller sizes. While the latter factor is not critical insofar as progressive depth of the groove 56 is concerned, it is preferred since it cooperates to compensate for reduction in the circumferential extent of contact between a ground-engaging member and the guide, resulting from the fact that the smallest guides usually are contacted by the narrowest part of the shoe 65, 66. In any event it will be apparent that the spring pressure applied by the shoe 65, 66 upon the guide is such that a gripping action of wedge-like character will occur upon exertion of a pull upon the guide lengthwise and to the left as viewed in Figs. 5 and 7, whereas an opposite pull, as toward the right in Figs. 5 and 7, upon the guide 27 will permit free movement of that guide relative to the shoe 65, 66 and the groundengaging member 20 which mounts said shoe.

The alternate clamping and releasing action of the spring-pressed swinging shoe 65, 66, as described above, permits the operation of the sprinkler for self-propulsion purposes in the manner illustrated schematically in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. As is seen by viewing the arrows in these figures, the crank arms 48 rotate in opposite directions and are so correlated that one thereof commences its pull upon the associated connecting rod 50a, as illustrated at the right in Fig. 8, at the same time that the pull previously exerted by the other upon its connecting rod 50b is substantially at an end. Also, as viewed in Fig. 10, the crank arm associated with connecting rod 50a is at substantially mid-stroke in its pushing operation at a time when the crank associated with the connecting red 5012 is at substantially dead center at the end of its pushing operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates a condition in which the pull of crank arm 48 upon connecting rod 50b advances the trailing ground-engaging member 40b so that the pivoted shoe 65b slides freely over the hose or guide 27 as the spacing between the water reactance member 20 and the ground-engaging member 40b is progressively reduced. At the same time the pull which is exerted by the crank arm 48 upon connecting rod 50a acts to clamp the pivoted shoe 6511 on the guide so that the leading groundengaging member 40a stands stationary. As the action of the water reactance member continues with resultant swinging of the crank arms 48 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9, the power re-' actance member 20 and the trailing ground-engaging member 40b are advanced relative to the ground-engaging member 40a which remains substantially constant or stationary. By the time the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 9, continued rotation of the crank 48 as sociated with the connecting rod 5% tends to push the trailing ground-engaging member 40b rearwardly. This is resisted and prevented by the clamping action of the pivoted shoe 65b engaging the guide 27 so that the operation serves to increase the spacing between the units 20 and 40b. While this action occurs, the crank connected with the connecting arm 50a is passing dead center so that the leading ground-engaging member 40a is maintained in substantially uniform spaced relation to the water reactance member 20 and is, by virtue of the forward motion of the member 20, advanced compared to its position shown in Fig. 9.

It will be apparent by a consideration of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 that a progressive advance of the unit occurs by alternately increasing and decreasing the spacing between the leading and trailing ground-engaging members 4th: and 40b. The clamping action of the pivoted shoes 65a and 65b which accommodates freedom of motion relative to the hose in one direction, but not the other, acts to prevent retrogressive motion of the ground-engaging members incident to the successive increase and decrease of the spacing between the parts 4tlaand 4%.

It will be apparent that, by reason of the fact that the parts are constructed simply, they are inexpensive. Likewise it will be apparent that the S-shape of the brack et which mounts the swinging hose-gripping shoe accommodates ready attachment and disconnection of the sprinkler and a hose. Another factor of importance isthe relation of the hose passing above the ground-engaging members so as to tend to stabilize the sprinkler and prevent the same from turning or falling upon its side, as when making a turn of the hose. In this connection, the hose is lifted from the ground as the device a-d-. vances and, consequently, when pegs are placed in the ground to guide or position the hose in a curved path in the manner well understood in the art, and if those pegs project above ground level a distance less than the height of the pads 55, the device will lift the hose clear of said pegs as it approaches them. Thus the hose is freed from the peg near a bend of the hose. so that subsequent pull upon the released hose tends to straighten the hose and swing the hose sidewise to clear the peg and in so doing serves to turn the sprinkler into the direction in which the portion of the hose in advance of the peg, i. e. toward the faucet connection, extends.

It is possible to choose the speed of operation or travel of the sprinkler in this construction by the simple expedient of disconnecting or removing one of the connecting rods 50 and tightening the securing members, such as the set screw 47 in Fig. 5, of the ground-engaging unit so disconnected from the water reactance member. In this instance the spacing of the disconnected ground-engaging member from the water reactance member remains constant at all times, and the propulsion of the device occurs only at the rate accommodated by the operation of the single remaining rod 50. This operation will be at a speed approximately one-half the speed attained by utilizing both connecting rods 50.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler comprising a water reactance unit, a pair of spaced ground-engaging units supporting said water reactance unit, connecting means actuated by said water reactance unit and connected to said water reactance unit and to at least one of said ground-engaging units to move said ground-engaging units relative to each other in predetermined sequence and in a guided path, each ground-engaging unit including a bracket, a shoe pivoted to said bracket spaced above the associated ground-engaging unit and including downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot, and spring means carried by each groundengaging unit urging the free end of said shoe downwardly to grip an elongated guide member bearing on said ground-engaging unit below said shoe, said shoe swinging freely rearwardly to release said guide when said connecting means moves said ground-engaging unit forwardly relative to said guide.

2. A sprinkler comprising a water reactance unit, a pair of spaced ground-engaging units supporting said water reactance unit, connecting means actuated by said water reactance unit and connected to said water reactance umt and to at least one of said ground-engaging units to move said ground-engaging units relative to each other in predetermined sequence and in a guided path, each ground-engaging unit having a surface for supporting an elongated guide, a shoe pivoted to each ground-engaging unit spaced above said guide-supporting surface, and spring means carried by said unit urging said shoe into engagement with a guide on said surface at a point rearwardly and belowthe pivot axis of said shoe.

3. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said shoe has a longitudinally curved convex guide-engaging surface. A

4. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said shoe is curved lengthwise with its longitudinally convex surface engaging said guide, the radius of longitudinal curvature of said shoe decreasing progressively from its pivot to its free end.

5. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said shoe has a guide-engaging surface of convex form lengthwise thereof and concave form transversely thereof.

6. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said shoe has a guide-engaging surface of convex form lengthwise thereof and concave form transversely thereof, the radius of transverse curvature of said shoe increasing progressively from its free end toward its pivot.

7. A'sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said shoe has a guide-engaging surface of convex form lengthwise thereof and concave form transversely thereof, said shoe being of progressively increasing width and having a progressively increasing radius of transverse curvature from its free end toward its pivot.

8. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said guide-supporting surface includes a transversely arcuate guide-receiving groove.

9. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2, wherein said guide-supporting surface includes a transversely arcuate guide-receiving groove of progressively increasing width and depth from rear to front thereof below said shoe.

10. A sprinkler comprising a pair of spaced supports, a water reactance unit carried by and positioned between said supports, each support having a longitudinal guideengaging surface, a guide-engagingrclamp shoe pivoted to each support spaced from said surface with its free end extending in rearwardly converging relation toward said surface, spring means carried by each support urging the free end of said shoe forwardly into clamping engagement with a guide on said surface, and means actuated by said unit and connecting said unit, and at least one support for shifting said supports toward and from each other.

11. A sprinkler comprising a pair of spaced supports, a water reactance 'unit carried by and positioned between said supports, each support having a longitudinal guideengaging surface, a guide-engaging clamp shoe pivoted to each support spaced from said surface with its free end extending in rearwardly converging relation toward said surface, spring means carried by each support urging the free end of said shoe forwardly into clamping engagement with a guide on said surface, and means actuated by said unit and connecting said unit and at least one support for shifting said supports toward and from each other, said last named means including elongated second guide means directing the relative movement between each support and said unit, a pair of removable actuators each normally connected to said unit and to one of said supports, and selectively operable means cooperating with one of said second guide means for securing in fixed relation said unit and a support when said support is disconnected from its actuator.

12. A sprinkler comprising a pair of spaced supports, a water reactance unit carried by and positioned between said supports, each support having a longitudinal guidecngaging surface, a guide-engaging clamp shoe pivoted to each support spaced from said surface with its free end extending in rearwardly converging relation toward said surface, spring means carried by each support urging the free end of said shoe forwardly into clamping engagement with a guide on said surface, and means actuated by said unit and connecting said unit and at least one support for shifting said supports toward and from each other, said shoe having a guide-engaging surface of longitudinally convex and transversely concave form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,243,104 Richardson Oct. 16, 1917 1,828,801 Finlayson Oct. 27, 1931 2,660,472 Rice Nov. 24, 1953 2,716,573 Egly Aug. 30, 1955 

